Civil Air Patrol squadron cadets of Whitehouse Station attend basic encampment and leadership school

Cadets from the Delaware Valley Composite Squadron of Whitehouse Station, local unit of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), recently completed eight days of Basic Encampment and Regional Cadet Leadership School at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Civil Air Patrol Basic Basic Encampment challenges cadets to develop self-discipline and teamwork while broadening their understanding of aerospace. Basic Encampment includes presentations, activities and leadership from members of the Air Force and Army, including Active, Reserve, Guard and Retired. For most cadets, Basic Encampment offers them their first opportunity to live on a military installation, away from home, for one week.

According to squadron Commander Greg Owen, “This is a great accomplishment for the young members of our squadron.” “Not only did we have nine cadets attending the encampment, we also had two cadets as members of the encampment staff who had attended last year and came back to offer their guidance to the new recruits,” said Owen.
The nine cadets who attended are Rebecca Borowski, Andrew Christopher, Garrett Coyne, Dylan Dos Santos, Giselle Dos Santos, Andrew O'Connell, Michael Scarince, Samuel Rutledge and Luke Hanlon. Participating as encampment leaders were Brendan Higgins who assumed the role of Flight Sargent, and Rachel Stubbs who helped supervise the medical staff.

The squadron also had two of its cadets, Jesse Acevedo and Hayden Coyne, attending CAP’s Regional Cadet Leadership School (RCLS). RCLS is an intensive week-long course in officership, indirect leadership, and other themes consistent with CAP’s leadership expectations for advancing cadets. RCLS was also held at McGuire Airforce Base.

As a result of their demonstrated leadership, Cadets Coyne and Acevedo will be awarded the Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Award of the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program on Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Whitehouse Station Fire Company. This award places them among the top 15% of all cadets nation-wide. As part of the award ceremony, both Cadets will be promoted to the CAP officer rank of Second Lieutenant. A high-ranking CAP officer from Civil Air Patrol headquarters will be on hand to present Cadets Acevedo and Coyne the award. Members of the media are invited to attend.

“Completion of Basic Encampment and graduation from RCLS demonstrates just two of the many ways our cadets grow to accomplish great things through this program” said Owen, who added, “These young leaders truly represent the future of our country.”

CAP is the all civilian, all volunteer auxiliary of the Air Force. The squadron meets on Monday nights, from 7-9 p.m., at the Whitehouse Fire Company located on 271 Main St., Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889.